From analogue to digital a giant step

Its hard to imagine there could be so much change in the way we go about constructing films, or to be more precise, videos. It’s the two different terms that define their differences and their histories paint the picture.

I studied film and television at uni in the late
seventies early eighties and it was mainly film orientated. Portable video was
only just getting under way and the equipment was very basic. The editing
process unbelievably primitive.

Using film was a costly exercise, 16mm being the stock
mainly used. Access to cameras was difficult. Being at uni meant we had access
to some good gear, but independent people had to hire, which was very
expensive.

Then there was the sound equipment, also very
expensive, which was separate to the film. This meant sophisticated editing
equipment had to run the individual entities together, which later had to be
merged onto a sound stripped film. This meant even more valuable equipment and
duplication onto additional 16mm film.

It’s hard to imagine these restrictions today. A
miniature sized camera incorporating the sound track with the video image all
in HD is just the beginning.

Editing and assembly is done on your personal computer
at an inexpensive cost for software, and if you don’t like the shot you simply
delete it and record over. The rank amateur can also compose music using
software to assemble brief segments into a coherent backing track.

The digital era has made the editing process much
easier. Previously in the analog mode videos were constructed in a linier
fashion. Digital means a non-linier approach allowing you to fit pieces
together where ever, so you don’t have to go back to the start every time you
whish to change something. Really great.

This new approach has meant anyone can produce a
video.

The kind of video is what now becomes the crux.

It’s the artistic merit, creativity, new ways of thinking,
bending the rules, slickness and telling a clear comprehendible story.

Constructing documentary style video has subsequently
undergone considerable change as a consequence. In my early experience the
documentary was narrated by an observer, who constructed the story in
conjunction with the image and various participants within the story. On many
occasions, they duplicated in their narrative what was being said by the
individual within the story, which becomes boring. We see this frequently in
news reporting.

The new construct is to have those within the story
tell the story, or in some cases narrate the story. Much of this is achieved
with voiceover of the participant as the image plays out a relevant sequence.
Viewers are drawn closer to the story with this technique.

I have found this new approach challenging at first
but can see how significant it is to clearly comprehending and enjoying the
story.